Mine car transporting vehicle



y 1942- J. D. RUSSELL MINE CAR TRANSPORTING VEHICLE Filed Aug. 7, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l ww. .7 ww

a on IN VEN TOR.

July 21, 1942. J. D. RUSSELL 2,290,652

MINE CAR TRANSPORTING VEHICLE Filed Aug. 7, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a: r a Q k G q n N m N Q o 7 Q\ N N f \0\ r NP m N u w v 2 "w v g Q v N kn q. l I INVENTOR.

Jo/m Qqsse/K BY v ATTORNEY July 21, 1942. J RUSSELL 2,290,652

MINE CAR TRANSPORTING VEHICLE Filed Aug. '7, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A TTORNEY Patented July 21, 1942 UNETE STATES ANT MINE CAR TRANSPORTING VEMCLE of Pennsylvania Application August 7,

9 Claims.

1939, Serial No. 288,797

This invention relates to the mining of coal,

and more particularly to a system of mining and apparatus for transporting mine cars of the type adapted to run on rails, from the main haulage line of a coal mine to and from the working face where the coal is being produced and loaded into the car.

Coal mining in the United States is most commonly carried on by what is known in the industry as the room and pillar system, or by a construction, positive in operation, readily manufactured, and which is easily and readily maneuvered about in the confined areas of a mine chamber.

These and other objects which will hereinafter be made apparent to those skilled in this parmodification of such system. In the room and pillar system the underground workings of a coal mine are laid out in a uniform, geometric pattern and usually consist of a series of main entries arranged substantially parallel to each other and separated by barrier pillars having breakthroughs cut therein at regular intervals to provide communication between the entries. Other or secondary entries are turned off at an angle of 90 from the main entries, and from these secondary entries, panel entries are turned off also at an angle of 90. The rooms, from which the majority of the coal is recovered, are turned off from the panel entries on approximately 50 ft. to '70 ft. centers.

In the great majority of mines the coal produced in the rooms is transported from the rooms to the main haulage entry in cars adapted to travel on the tracks laid in the several entries,

which necessitates the continuous laying of track as the work in the rooms progresses and the depth of the rooms increases, to accommodate the mine cars.

The primary object of this invention is to provide apparatus for transporting and carrying a i mine car around the workings of a mine without the need of track rail.

Another object is to provide a self-propelled vehicle or car mounted on pneumatic tires which is adapted to pick up a mine car on the haulage railway, transport the same into a room where the coal is being produced, place the same in position to be loaded, and after the car has been loaded, carry the loaded car back to the haulage entry and position the car on the rails so that extend underneath a mine car standing on a railway track, which are capable of being elevated to lift the mine car from the track.

A further object is to provide apparatus for engaging the car or vehicle which will properlypon sition the car-toting vehicle to assure the alignment of the mine car wheels with the rails as it is returned to the haulage railway track.

A further object is to provide a self-propelled vehicle, for transporting mine cars to and from the haulage railway track, which is simple in ticular art are accomplished by means of this invention. one embodiment of which is described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a self-propelled vehicle, made in accordance with my invention, for removing mine cars from the haulage railway track and transporting the cars to and from a loading station, and having a portion thereof broken away, the position of the mine car on the vehicle being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of my improved mine car transporting vehicle in position to elevate or lift the mine car from the haulage track and having a wheel and the driving motor therefor removed for convenience of illustration;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the mine car transporting vehicle illustrating in dotted lines the positions of the mine car during the loading and transportation thereof;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the car having a portion thereof broken away for convenience of illustration Fig. 5 is a section taken on line VV of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line VI--VI of Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a plan view of a device used in connection with my invention for re-railing the car;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of a mine showing one method of operation where the mine is provided with a single railway track;

Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts, a vehicle, made in accordance with my invention, is illustrated which is adapted to lift a mine car 10 from the track laid in a mine chamber, transport the car to a loading station therein, and then return the car to and reset or rerail the same on the track.

My mine car lifting and transporting vehicle or car I I is of built up construction and comprises a pair of tubes [2, having relatively heavy side walls arranged parallel to each other on each side of the car, which form the supports for the mine car or wagon during the transportation thereof. At their rear ends the tubes [2 are secured by welding, or in any other suitable manner, to a relatively heavy cross plate l3, and each terminates, at its front end, in an arm l4 of substantially inverted L-shape in section, having a portion l5 extending rearwardly along the side of the tube to which the arm carrying such portion is attached. The upper part of the portions 15 are in the same plane as the top of the tubes 12, and triangular wedges H5, conforming in shape to the contour of the tubes I2, are positioned therebetween. The arms I4, portions I and wedges I5 are secured to the tubes in any suitable manner such as welding. The forward end of each of the arms I4 is curved downwardly at H to facilitate the guiding of a mine car onto the vehicle, as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

Mounted on each of the tubes I2 at the end of the side portions I5 of the arms I4, are annular members I8, which are fixed to the tubes to prevent rotation thereof, each having an outwardly projecting stub axle I9 integral therewith, on which the hub 20 of a side member or arm 2i is journaled. Each of the side members 2| has a stub axle 22 secured to the front end thereof which is forward of the stub axle I9 on the tube I2, on which a drive wheel 23, preferably of the type having a pneumatic tire shoe, is mounted. In order to drive the wheels 2323, a sprocket 24 is secured to the hub of each wheel, which is engaged by a chain 25, driven by a reversible motor 25 through a suitable gear reduction unit 21 having a sprocket 28 on the driven shaft thereof which engages the chain 25. Each motor and gear reduction unit 25--2I is mounted on a bracket 29 whichv is secured to the side member or arm 2i, carrying the wheel driven thereby.

The rear end of each of the members H has a grooved wheel or sheave (not shown) mounted thereon which receives a chain 35 having one end secured to a vertical wall SI secured to the plate I3 and tube I2, and the other end attached to a shaft 32 extending transversely of the car and journaled in the side walls 3I. By rotating the shaft 32 it is apparent that the chain 35 will be shortened or lengthened, depending on the direction of rotation of the shaft, and turn the members 2I about the stub axles I9, and since the wheels 23 are forward of the axles IS, the tubes I2 and the arms I4 carried thereby will be raised and lowered, respectively, relative to the surface upon which the wheels 23 are traveling.

The side members I2 and I4 are tied together to prevent separation thereof by a plate 35, forming the floor of the car, which has one end secured to the rear wall I3, and its side edges socured to the tubes I2 and to the arms I4 carried thereby. The floor is strengthened and reenforced by transversely extending members 55, which extend underneath the floor and are secured to the tubes I2 and to the bottom surface of plate 35, and by triangularly shaped members 31 which are positioned on the floor and abut against the tubes I2 to which they are secured by welding or in any other suitable manner. The floor is also provided with a cutaway portion at 38 adjacent the forward end of the car for receiving the wheels and axles of the mine car to be carried on the vehicle. Turning movement of the tubular members I2 is further prevented by a vertically extending transverse plate 39 arranged in front of and connected to the wall I3 by the side walls 3! and by spacers 45 positioned between the wall and the plate. The plate 39 is also connected to the tubular members I2 and has a portion cut away at 4| to receive the bumper of a mine car.

The rear end of the car II comprises a plate 44, which is welded or otherwise secured to the rear wall I3, and has a dome-like central portion 45 abutting against the wall I3 to which it is attached in any suitable manner.

J ournaled in bearings 45 carried by the domelike portion 45 is a vertically extending tubular shaft 41, having a collar 48 secured to its lower end which is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed stub axles 49 for receiving pneumatic tired wheels 55. As illustrated, the axles 49 slope downwardly from the collar 48, so that the bottoms or ground-contacting surfaces of the wheels 55 are close together and in effect provide a single wheel of dual construction for supporting the rear end of the vehicle.

In order to steer or guide the vehicle I I a worm gear 5I is secured to the end of the tubular shaft 41 extending above the dome 45, and this gear is engaged by a worm 52 on the end of a transversely extending shaft 53 journaled on the top of the dome. are mounted on the opposite end of the shaft 53, and are connected thereto through suitable gearing (not shown) for enabling the operator, who rides on one of the seats 55-56 on the plate 44 and faces in the direction of travel of the vehicle, to readily and easily steer the vehicle.

In order to rotate the shaft 32 to lengthen and shorten the chain 30, and thus vary the elevation of the tubular members I2 relative to the wheels 23, a reversible motor 53 is mounted on the. rear wall I3 and has its drive shaft connected through a suitable speed reducer 59 with a shaft Bil having a worm BI secured thereto which meshes with a worm gear 62 on the shaft 32. Suitable push button controls (not shown) are provided in a place accessible to the operator for operating the motor 58.

Power for operating the motors 26-28 and 58 is supplied through a cable 55, having one end connected to a power supply line and the other to said motors. The cable 65 is wound on a reel 65, adapted to play out the cable when the car is moving in a direction away from the supply line, and to reel in or wind up the cable when the car is moving in a direction toward the supply line. The reel 65 is mounted on a shaft 61 having its ends journaled in upright brackets 68 secured to the plate 44. To drive the reel 66, a sheave (not shown) is secured to one end of the shaft 51, which is connected to a sheave 10 on the end of a short shaft II journaled in a bracket I2 on the top of the dome 45 by means of a belt I3. A bevel gear I4 is secured to the opposite end of the shaft II which meshes with a bevel gear 15 on the upper end of a vertical shaft I6 mounted within the tubular shaft 41. A gear 11 is secured to the lower end of the vertical shaft I6, which meshes with a gear I8 on the hub of one of the wheels 50. From this construction it is apparent that the travel of the car controls the turning .of the cable reel.

The operation of the motors 26 is controlled through a suitable control box 50 mounted on the dome 45 and having a lever 8I leading therefrom and terminating in an operating handle 82 adjacent the operators stations 56.

In the operation of my improved mine car transporting vehicle I I, which may be used to advantage in mines where the cars are either hand loaded or mechanically loaded, the operator starts the motors 26 and drives the vehicle over the storage track upon which the empty mine cars have been placed so that one of the wheels 23 is on the outside of each of the rails of the track. As the vehicle approaches the first car on the storage track, the motor 58 is started to lower the arms I4 and the tubular members I2 so that they will pass underneath A pair of hand wheels 54 the mine car. The vehicle is driven forward until the car bumper passes into opening 4| and the end of the car comes into contact with the wall 39. Motor 58 is then reversed to raise the arms [4 and the tubular members I2 until the weight of the mine car is taken off the rails, or, if necessary, until the wheel rims clear the top of the rails. In this position the mine car is then supported on the side members of the vehicle and is independent of the track and the operator either backs the vehicle ll off of the end of the track or turns the wheels 50 in the desired direction whereby the wheels 23 of the vehicle will ride over the rails, proceeds into the room where the mine car is placed at the working face in position to be loaded.

In order to prevent the car Hi from sliding oil of the side members of the vehicle H, pads 93 may be provided on the members I8, which engage with the dumping apparatus, not shown, provided on the bottom of the mine cars II).

If the cars are mechanically loaded and the roof is low, the operator may lower the side members of the frame until the wheels of the mine car rest on the floor of the room, so that additional space will be secured between the top of the car and the mine roof.

After loading, the vehicle is driven out of the room and the loaded car redelivered to the track and re-railed thereon.

In order to facilitate the pick-up and rerailing of the mine cars on the track, I provide a track section 35 (Fig. 7) one of which is adapted to be placed in the track at both the pick-up and re-railing stations. The pick-up and re-railing track section 85 comprises a series of cross members 86 which are secured at each end to side plates 81. Mounted on the cross members 86 are rail sections 88 which are of the same gauge as the track in the mine, and are equidistant from the center of the cross members. When the pick-up and re-railing stations are at a point other than at the end of the track, the rail sections 88 form continuations of the rails of the track, but when the sections 85 are placed at the end of the track, I prefer to flare the ends of the rails 88 outwardly, as at 89, to aid in guiding the wheels of the mine car onto the track during the re-railing. In order to center the vehicle H and position the wheels of the mine car over the rails 88, a series of spaced rollers 90 are arranged on the plates 81 which guide the wheels 23 of the vehicle and assure proper positioning of the mine car with relation to the rails of the track. The rollers are journaled on horizontally arranged shafts (not shown) mounted in upright brackets 9| on the plates 81, and are of funnel shape at the entrance end to guide the vehicle ll into position. By using rollers as guides, I eliminate to a great extent wear on the side walls of the pneumatic tires supporting my improved vehicle.

In the use of my car transporting vehicle in mines where the cars are loaded by hand labor, one vehicle may be used for several rooms. In such mines, the operator picks up the empty cars, one at a time, from the track in the haulage entry and transports them to the rooms being worked, where they are set on the floor in position to be loaded. After the cars have been loaded, a second empty car is taken into each room where it is deposited and the loaded car is then picked up and transported to the haulage entry where it is re-railed on the tracks for transportation to the tip-ple by a suitable locomotive.

My improved mine car transporting vehicle, however, is especially adapted for use in mechanized mines where machines are employed for loading coal at the working face. In such mines the loading machine remains at the face until all the loose coal has been loaded, and consequently, two or more of the self-propelled vehicles must be used with each loading machine so that an empty car will always be available to receive coal from the loading machine and keep the time lost resulting from car changes to a minimum. When my car transporting vehicle is to be used in mines employing loading machines and having a single haulage line 95 in the entry I (Fig. 8) on which both the empty and loaded cars are transported, tracks 96 and 91 are laid in the breakthroughs 4 in the barrier pillars 3 adjacent the rooms being worked for storing the empty cars and the loaded cars respectively, and two vehicles II are used to transport the cars from the track 93 to the loading machine and back to the track 91. Each track Sit-97 is connected to the haulage track 95 by a suitable switch and terminates in a track section of the type heretofore described.

In order to keep the cables 85 on the two vehicles H from becoming entangled, I prefer to have them travel over different routes from the storage tracks to and from the loading machine, with one vehicle picking up a car on the track 95, while the car on the other vehicle is being loaded or depositing a car on the track 91. One car travels in the entry 2 and room 5-A where the loading machine may be assumed to be working, while the other travels in the entry 2, room 5-B, through the cross-cut LA, into the room '5-A. If the car traveling in the room 5-A is between the cross-cut 'i-A and the loading machine, the operator of the second car waits in the cross-cut 'I-A until the loaded car has cleared the cross-cut on its way to the load track 91 after which the operator continues into the room 5-A and places the mine car in position to receive coal from the loader. When the mine car on the second transporting vehicle has been loaded,

the above described path of travel is retraced and the vehicle moves from the room 5-A into the entry 2 through the cross-cut 'l-A and room While the car on the trans-porting vehicle operating in room 5-13 is being loaded, the car on the transporting vehicle operating in room 5-A has been positioned on the load-carrying track 91 and the vehicle driven through the entry 2 to track 96 to pick up an empty mine car therefrom. If the vehicle operating in room 5-A has passed the room opening 5-3, the transporting vehicle operating in room 5-B proceeds into the entry 2 to deposit the loaded car on the track 91, otherwise the car is halted in the room opening 5-B until the entry is clear. After depositing a loaded car on track 9?, the vehicle travels through the entry to pick up another empty from the track 55 and the cycle above outlined is repeated.

From the foregoing description of my invention it is apparent that I have provided a mine car transporting vehicle which is sturdy in construction, easy to operate, and readily maneuverable through the confined area of a mine, and since a single dual wheel is provided which may be turned sharply, the vehicle will negotiate right angled turns with ease. Further, the vehicle is free from chassis strain although it may be traveling over rough and uneven surfaces, since it is, in effect, mounted on three wheels. It is also apparent that with a vehicle embodying my invention mine cars may be readily picked up from the track and re-railed thereon, and that where mechanical loaders are being employed, the height of the mine car may be lowered to receive the boom of the loading machine during the loading operation.

Other exemplifications of my invention may be made, and certain modifications, additions, omissions or subtractions may be made therein without detracting from the spirit of my invention or the scope of th appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure Letters Patent is:

1. A mine car transporting vehicle comprising a fram having a supporting wheel at it rear end and spaced side members extending from the forward end thereof, an arm pivotally mounted on each of said side members, a wheel mounted on each of said arms forward of the pivot between the arm and th side member, means for turning said arms about their pivots to raise and lower the side members of said frame and means on said side members adapted to engage the bottom of a mine car when the same are raised to hold said car in position thereon.

2. A mine car transporting vehicle comprising a frame having a dual wheel supporting one end thereof, spaced side members on said frame, an outwardly projecting axle on each of said side members, an arm pivotally mounted on each of said axles, an axle secured to on end of each of said arms, a wheel journaled on the axle of each of said arms means mounted on said arms for driving the wheels carried thereby, and means for turning said arms about th axles on said side members to vary the elevation of said side members.

3. A mine car transporting vehicle comprising a frame having a dual wheel supporting the rear end thereof, spaced car supporting members projecting from th rear end of said frame, an arm pivoted to each of said side members, a drive wheel journaled on each of said arms forward of said pivot, a motor mounted on each of said arms for driving the wheel journaled thereon,

means for steering said dual wheel, and means for turning said armsto vary the elevation of said side members.

4'. A mine car transporting vehicle comprising a frame having a dome like portion at the rear end thereof and spaced side members at th forward end, a dual steering wheel mounted within said dome like portion for supporting the rear end of said frame, an arm pivoted to each of said side members, a drive wheel journaled on each of said arms, a motor mounted on each of said arms for driving the wheel journaled thereon, and means for turning said arms to vary the elevation of said side members.

5. A mine car transporting vehicle comprising aframe having a dome like section at the rear end and spaced side members at the forward end thereof, a vertical shaft journaled in said dome-like section, a dual steering wheel journaled on the lower end of said vertical shaft and supporting th rear end of said frame an axle secured to each of said side members, an arm mounted on each of said axles for swinging movement in a vertical plane, a stub axle secured to the end of said arms, a wheel mounted on each of said stub axles, means for driving the wheels journaled on said stub axles, and means for swinging said arms to vary the elevation of said side members.

6. A mine car transporting vehicle comprising a frame having spaced side members at one end thereof, a stub axle projecting outwardly from the side of each of said members, an arm pivoted on each of said stub axles for swinging in a vertical plane, an axle secured to one end of each of said arms, a wheel journaled on the axle of each of said arms, a motor mounted on each arm for driving the wheel journaled thereon, a steering wheel journaled on the longitudinal axis of said frame to form with said drive wheels a three wheel mounting for said vehicle, and means for swinging said arms in a vertical plane to vary the elevation of said side members.

'7. A mine car transporting vehicle comprising a frame having a centrally disposed single supporting wheel at one end thereof, a pair of spaced car supporting and carrying members extending from the opposite end of said frame, a stub axle projecting outwardly from the side of each of said car supporting and carrying members, an arm pivoted on each of said axles, an axle secured to the forward end of each of said arms, a wheel journaled on th axle of each of said arms, means for driving said wheels, and means for turning said arms to vary the elevation of said car elevating and supporting members.

8. An automotive vehicle for picking up, transporting and rerailing mine cars and the like hav ing flanged wheels adapted to travel on track rails, comprising in combination a frame having spaced car supporting members extending forwardly thereof, an arm pivoted intermediate its ends on the outside of each of said car supporting members, apneumatic tired wheel journaled on the forward end of each of said arms and adapted to straddle said track rails when a car is to be picked up or rerailed, a centrally positioned pneumatic tired steering wheel supporting the rear end of said frame and adapted to travel between the rails during the picking up and rerailing of a car, individual means for driving the wheels journaled on the forward end of each of said arms, and means for raising. and lowering the rear ends of said arms to raise and lower respectively said car supporting members.

9. An automotive Vehicle for picking up, transporting and rerailing mine cars and th like having flanged wheels adapted to travel on track rails, comprising in combination a fram having spaced car supporting members extending forwardly thereof, a stub axle projecting outwardly from each of said car supporting members, an arm journaled intermediate of its ends on each of said stub axles, a wheel journaled on the forward end of each of said arms and adapted to straddle said track rails when a car is to be picked up or rerailed, a centrally positioned dual wheel supporting the rear end of said frame adapted to travel between the track rails during the picking up and rerailing of a car, a motor mounted on each of said arms for driving the wheel journaled thereon, and means for raising and lowering the rear ends of said arms to raise and lower respectively said car supporting members.

JOHN D. RUSSELL. 

